Ceiling structure



May 16, 1961 E. LEHMANN CEILING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 28,1956 INVEN TOR .H M V//////// I u a a v Q a o a May 16, 1961 Filed May28, 1956- E. LEHMANN CEILING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet Z5 Fig. 7 l 3 8 4P E 4 INVENTOR w i lfk/vsrl mam/Av y 1961 E. LEHMANN 2,984,323

CEILING STRUCTURE Filed May 28, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United StatesPatent O CEILING STRUCTURE Ernst Lehmann, St. Gallen, Switzerland,assignor to Gema A.-G. Apparatebau und Stanzerei, St. Gallen- Winkeln,Switzerland Filed May 28, 1956, Ser. No. 587,557

Claims priority, application Switzerland June 13, 1955 Claims. (Cl.189-86) This invention relates to ceiling structures providing aninterior or false ceiling formed of plates and suspended from asupporting ceiling. Such ceiling structures are generally known and areusually formed as radiant heating ceilings having heating pipes arrangedin the interspace between the supporting ceiling and the interiorceiling, or as ventilation ceilings, having openings in the 1nteriorceiling for the purpose of circulating air. Such a ceiling may also bebuilt as sound absorbing ceiling.

According to the invention the ceiling structure comprises downwardlydepending bolts anchored in the supporting ceiling, horizontalsupporting beams secured to said bolts, and plates forming the interiorceiling, said plates having upturned marginal portions each providedwith a lateral flange resting on one of said beams.

The pipes of a device for radiant ceiling heating may also be carried bythe said beams.

The invention will now be more particularly described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical section, taken across the supporting beams, of afirst embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a second embodiment,

Fig. 3 shows a modification of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a third embodiment,

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the structure shown in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a fourth embodiment,

Fig. 7 shows a section on the line VII-VII in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section analogous to Fig. 1, through a fifthembodiment of the invention.

In Fig. l of the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a supportingceiling, made e.g. of concrete, the underside of which is provided witha lining 2. Threaded bolts 3 passing through the lining 2 and projectingdownwardly are anchored in the supporting ceiling 1. Threaded on thefree end portion of each bolt 3 are two nuts 4. The bolts 3 are arrangedin parallel rows. The bolts 3 of each row of bolts project throughopenings provided in a channel-section supporting beam 5, which isadjustably secured to the bolts 3 by means of the nuts 4.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, each of the channel-section beams 5has a lateral flange 5a. Seated upon each longitudinal flange 5a are thehorizontal legs of the upturned and mutually abutting edge portions 6 oftwo adjacent plates 7 of the interior ceiling. It is not necessary tofasten the legs of the edge portions 6 to the longitudinal flanges 5a.Instead of extending horizontally, the longitudinal flanges 5a of thebeams 5 and the legs of the edge portions 6 of the plates 7 resting onthe flanges can be slightly inclined. It is to be understood that thechannel-section beams 5 can also be provided with lateral flanges 5a onboth sides.

As may be easily seen, a very simple suspension device for the interiorceiling is provided by the parts 3, 4, 5 and 5a. This suspension devicefor the interior ceiling simultaneously serves as a support for thepipes 8, placed ice between the interior ceiling 7 and the supportingceiling 1, 2 and forming part of a system for radiant ceiling heating.The pipes 8 extend transversely of the channel-section beams 5 and restupon the latter. A special fastening of the pipes 8 on thechannel-section beams 5 is not required. Contrary to known radiantheating ceilings, the pipe system of the heating equipment thus has noinde pendent suspension on the supporting ceiling.

In the described arrangement separate suspension members for the heatingpipes are not required and moreover these pipes need not be alignedexactly in horizontal direction as is required in known constructions inwhich the plates or slabs of the interior ceiling are suspended from thepipes secured to the supporting ceiling in the described embodiment. Theaccurate horizontal positioning of the interior ceiling is obtainedmerely by corresponding adjustment of the channel-section beams 5 alongthe threaded bolts 3 by means of the nuts 4. A further advantage of theceiling structure according to the invention resides in the fact thatthe elements 3 to 7 are suitable both for ceilings with a radiantheating device and for ceilings without such a device.

The plates 7 of the interior ceilings may be perforated and/or beprovided with a sound absorbing lining on their upper face.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 2 the supporting beam 5' is L-shapedin section and is secured to the bolt 3 by its shorter horizontal leg.The longer leg 9 of the beam 5 projecting downwardly in vertical.direction, is provided with a plurality of equidistant slots 10. Theupturned marginal portions 6' of the plates 7' forming the interiorceiling are provided with a number of horizontal tongues 11 engagingwithin the slots 10 and the number of which correspond to that of theslots 10.. The height of the slots 10 and the height of the edgeportions 6' are so selected that, when for instance the plate 7', shownat the left in Fig. 2, is pressed upwardly to an extent causing itstongues 11 to abut the upper edge of the slots 10, the adjacent plate 7'can be moved to the left so far that its end tongues 11 can bedisengaged from the slots 10, whereby this latter plate can be removed.When inserting the plates 7', it is proceeded in an analogous manner.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3 has beams 5a ofU-section. The beams 5a in this case are secured by their webs to thebolts 3, while the two de pending legs 9a of the channel-section beamare provided with slots 10a. The plates 7a in this construction meeteach other in a vertical plane extending through the respective row ofbolts. The marginal portions 6a of the plates 7a are bent upwardssymmetrically with respect to the said plane of separation and engagewithin the slots 10a of the associated leg 9a, each by a row ofhorizontal tongues 11a. In this case as well, the plates can be removedor inserted merely by pressing one plate upwardly and moving the otherplate in transverse direction.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 4 has profiled beams 5b of U-shapedcross-section, the web of which is fastened to the bolts 3. The edgeportions 12 of the downwardly projecting legs 13 are outwardly bent atan angle. The marginal portions 6b of the sheet metal plates 7b, whichmeet in a plane extending vertically through the row of bolts are benttowards the beam 5b in a manner symmetrical to the said plane, andcomprise upwardly extendmg resilient edge portions 14 corrugated inlongitudinal direction. These resilient edge portions 14 of the platesare slipped over the outwardly bent edge portions 12 of the beam legs13, so that each plate 711 is releasably clamped between two adjacentbeams 51: by means of its edge portions 14. When for instance the plate7b shown at the left in Fig. 4 is forced upwardly until the edge portion12 of the beam leg engages the bottom groove of theassociated edgeportion 14, of that plate, then the plate 7bsituated at the right handside, can be grasped by its left edge and can be released from itsclamped position.

Also in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5, supporting beams 5c ofU-shaped cross-section are provided in this case, however, the edgeportions 12c of the legs 13c arebent at an angle in the same direction,that is, towards the left in the drawing. This arrangement requires anasymmetrical bending of the adjacent edge portions of the plates 70, theedge portions 6c, 60' respectively hav ing .resilient corrugated edgeportions 140, 140, but in this case as well, the plates 70 arereleasably clamped between two adjacent beams 50 by means of theirresilient edge portions 141:, 140' which are corrugated lengthwise.

In the embodiments according to Figs. 2 to 4, the suspension means forthe interior ceiling also serves as a supporting means for the pipes 8,which are disposed be tween the plates 7 and the supporting ceiling 1(Fig. 2) and form part of a system for radiant ceiling heating. Thepipes 8 extend transversely of the beams 5 and rest on the latter;separate suspension members for the heating pipes 8 will thus be saved.

In the embodiment according to Figs. 6 and 7, a plurality ofequidistantly spaced rows of horizontal guide rails are embedded in thesupporting ceiling 1. The rails 3.5 are of hollow rectangularcross-section and have a longitudinal slot 16 in their lower wall. Atone end of the hollow section rail 15, its lower wall of the section iscompletely cut away in order to provide an entrance opening 17 (Fig. 6).By means of upwardly bent skirts 18 the hollow section rail 15 istightly anchored in the supporting ceiling 1. Within each rail 15, thehead 3a, of a threaded bolt 3 extending downwardly through the slot 16,is supported so as to be horizontally disnlaceable. The bolts 3 of eachrow of bolts project each through a longitudinal slot 19 (Fig. 7) in thesupporting beam 5d extending at right angles to the guide rails 15 ofeach row, said beam being adjustably secured to the bolts 3' by means oftwo nuts 4. A lateral flange 5a (Fig. 6) of each beam 5d supports thehorizontal leg of the upturned and mutuall abutting marginal portions 6of two adjacent plates 7 of the interior ceiling. It will be understoodthat the profile .of the supporting beams 5d as well as the mode inwhich the plates 7 engage these beams could ditfer from the arrangementshown in the drawing.

The beams 5d of the ceiling structure shown in Figs. 6 and 7 also carrythe pipes 8 of a system for radiant ceiling heating, said pipes beingarranged between the interior ceiling 7 and the supporting ceiling 1, 2in a direction transverse to that of the beams 5d.

As evident from the above description, the bolts 3' during assembly ofthe ceiling can be easily aligned in a row owing to their movablesuspension in the rails 15. in order to bring the beams 5d into exactlyparallel positions. On the other hand, the longitudinal slots 11provided in the beams 5a allow for relatively large inaccuracies in themutual spacing of the bolts 3 and guide rails 15. respectively, withineach row.

In place of a head 3a forming an integral part of the bolt 3', a nutcould be provided at the respective end of the bolt. Moreover, meanscould be provided for fixing the bolts 5' in their position on the guiderails. For this purpose the shanks of the bolts could be threaded theirentire length and a further nut could be provided on each bolt 3' belowthe slotted lower wall of the guide rails 15 for tightening the head3:]. on the latter. The opening left in the insulating layer 2 formounting the rail 15 can be filled with insulating or sound absorbingmaterial after the bolts 3' and the beams 5d have been mounted.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the guide rails 15' are not embeddedin the concrete ceiling 1, but are screwed to the underside thereof. Forthat purpose, the guide rails are provided with end flanges 20 havingslots 20a, through which fastening screws 21 extend. Alternatively therails 15' could be secured to the bottom face 4 of the concrete ceiling1 by means of suitable elements other than these screws 21, e.g. bymeans of skirts embedded in the concrete. The bolt 3', the shank ofwhich is threaded over its entire length, is fixed to the guide rail 15by means of a nut 22. The recess provided in the insulating layer 2 forattaching the rail 15' to the ceiling 1 subsequently is filled up withinsulating material 2a. A cover plate 23 held in place by a nut 24,closes the bottom of this recess. Otherwise the ceiling structure ac-.cording to Fig. 8 is similar to the previously described one shown inFigs. 6 and 7. Instead of being inserted through the recess 17 in thelower wall of the rail 15', the bolt head 3a could also be passedthrough an open end thereof.

The arrangement of the guide rails ,15' described with reference to Fig.8 is particularly adapted to provide existing ceilings with an interiorceiling 7 and with a system for radiant heating.

I claim:

1. A ceiling structure comprising a support, a plurality of hangersdepending from the support, a plurality of spaced beams adjustablysupported by said hangers a sufficient distance below said support tocarry pipes on the upper surfaces thereof and having longitudinallyextending supporting portions spaced below said upper surfaces, andceiling boards having upstanding vertical walls on two opposed sides,projecting hanger portions connected to the upper edges of said walls,said hanger portions being supported by said longitudinally extendingsupporting portions with adjoining walls of adjacent boardssubstantially in abutment, there being a substantial free anduninterrupted space below the hanger portions to permit pivoting of oneend of the boards about the longitudinally extending portions near theother end of said boards, said supporting portions being spaced belowsaid upper surfaces a distance at least equal to the height of saidwalls to permit one of said abutting walls to be moved vertically toenable relative lateral shifting between adjacent boards for removingand replacing a selected board without removing adjacent boards.

2. A ceiling structure comprising a support, a plurality of hangersdepending from the support, a plurality of pipes, a plurality of spacedbeams adjustably supported by said hangers a sufiicient distance belowsaid support to carry said pipes on the upper surfaces thereof andhaving longitudinally extending supporting portions spaced below saidupper surfaces, and ceiling boards having upstanding vertical walls ontwo opposed sides, projecting hanger portions connected to the upperedges of said Walls, said hanger portions being supported by saidlongitudinally extending supporting portions with adjoining walls ofadjacent boards substantially in abutment, said beams being arranged toprovide a free and'uninterrupted path for the hanger portions above saidsupporting portions for a distance at least equal to the height of thewalls, said supporting portions being spaced below said upper surfaces adistance at least equal to the height of said abutting walls, saidhanger portions being flat with the hanger portions on both sides ofsaid boards projecting in the same direction, said longitudinallyextending portions projecting from said beams in a direction opposite tothat of the hanger portions, there being a substantial free anduninterrupted space between the lower surfaces of the longitudinallyextending portions and the upper surfaces of the ceiling boards topermit pivoting of one end of said boards about the longitudinallyextending portions near the other end of said boards, the hangerportions of adjacent abutting walls being disposed one above the otherso that when the board with the upper of the hanger portions is lifted.a distance substantially equal to the height of the walls, the boardwith the lower hanger portions may be slid laterally to free its hangerportions from said supporting portions and be removed without removingadjacent boards.

3. A ceiling structure comprising a; support, a plurality of spewed n sp nd ng t am thesupport in ,a plurality of aligned substantiallyparallel groups, a plurality of spaced beams, a plurality of pipes,means adjustably supporting said beams on said hangers in substantiallyparallel relation and spaced below said support and carrying said pipeson the upper surfaces thereof and between said hangers, said beamshaving longitudinally extending supporting portions spaced below saidupper surfaces, and ceiling boards having upstanding vertical Walls ontwo opposed sides, projecting hanger portions connected to the upperedges of said walls and projecting in the same direction, said hangerportions being supported by said longitudinally extending supportingportions with adjoining Walls of adjacent boards substantially inabutment, there being a substantial free and uninterrupted space belowthe hanger portions to permit pivoting of one end of the boards aboutthe longitudinally extending portions near the other end of the boards,said supporting portions being spaced below said upper surfaces adistance at least equal to the height of said walls to permit one ofsaid abutting walls to be moved vertically to enable relative lateralshifting between adjacent boards for removing and replacing a selectedboard without removing adjacent boards.

4. The ceiling structure of claim 1, wherein said beams each have atleast one vertical leg extending downwardly from said upper surfaces,said legs having slots therein with the lower edges of said slotsdefining said supporting portions, said slots having a verticaldimension at least equal to that of the abutting portions of said walls.

5. The ceiling structure of claim 4, wherein said beams are of invertedU-shape in cross-section with the bight portion defining said uppersurfaces and each leg having a slot therein, each wall above itsabutting portion being recessed so as to be disposed over itscorresponding board, the hanger portions of each board projecting inopposite directions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,073,036 Voigt Mar. 9, 1937 2,250,411 Baker July 22, 1941 2,710,175Jorn Feb. 7, 1955 2,729,431 Little I an. 3, 1956 2,734,126 Kruger Feb.7, 1956 2,841,255 Kemp July 1, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 122,351 SwitzerlandJuly 27, 1948

